Moistening method and apparatus for duplicators



Jan- 16, 19 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,016,821

MOISTENING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUPLICATORS Filed Feb. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1952 w. RITZERFELD ETAL 3,

MOISTENING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUPLICATORS Filed Feb. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I ave/7mg W W s. M0

3,t 16,821 M'QJHSTENHNG METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DUPLT'CATURS Wilhelm Ritzerfeld, Schorlerner Alice 14, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany, and Gerhard Ritzerfeld, Franzenshader Str. 21, Ecriin-Grunewald, Germany Filed Feb. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 791,190 Claims priority, application Germany Feb. 10, 1958 15 Claims. ((11. 101-4325) The present invention relates to a moistening method and apparatus for duplicators, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for producing imprints of desired portions of a master sheet only on moistened portions of a copy sheet.

Rotary duplicating machines are known in which selected sections of a printing form or master sheet produce imprints on copy sheets. Such selected sections may extend in axial direction of the duplicating drum, or may extend in circumferential direction of the same. According to the position of the master sheet on the duplicating drum, either columns or lines are selected for printing on the copy sheet. The arrangements of the prior art are incapable of reproducing only line portions of selected columns, or column portions of selected lines.

It is one object of the present invention to improve the duplicating arrangements of the prior art in this respect, and to provide a duplicating method and apparatus permitting the printing of selected portions of the master sheet, which are limited in axial and circumferential direction of the duplicating drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a duplicating apparatus and method for printing selected lines of selected columns, or for printing selected columns of one or several selected lines.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a moistening device for moistening selected strips of copy sheets which are supplied to a duplicating machine, so that imprints can be made only on such selected moistened strips.

Another object of the present invention is to feed copy sheets moistened only along selected strip portions thereof to a duplicating machine capable of pressing only selected axially extending portions of the master sheet against the copy sheet, so that imprints are only produced on those portions of the moistened strips of the copy sheet against which the master sheet is pressed.

With these objects in View, the present invention mainly consists in a duplicating machine which comprises means for moistening only strip selected portions of a copy sheet; and means for pressing a selected strip portion of an inked master sheet extending transverse to the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet at least partly against the copy sheet. The present invention also consists in a duplicating method comprising the steps of moistening selected strip portions of a copy sheet; and pressing the copy sheet against a selected strip portion of an inked master sheet extending transverse to the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet. In this manner, imprints of desired portions of the master sheet are made only on the accordingly selected moistened portions of the copy sheet where crossed by the selected strip portion of the master sheet.

The duplicating machine to which the present invention is applied, is of the type in which a counter-pressure roller is moved at timed intervals against a duplicating roller carrying a master sheet, so that only selected axially extending strip portions of the master sheet are printed on the copy sheet in adjacent positions. The copy sheet is moistened along selected strips extending in feeding direction of the copy sheet and in circumferential direction of the duplicating roller, so that imprints are made on the copy sheet only on those parts of the moistened strips sntasat Patented Jan, 16, i932 ice where the counter pressure roller is in printing position and where the selected axially extending strip portions of the master sheet pressed against the copy sheet cross the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet.

In this manner it is possible, for example, to moisten the copy sheet along selected columns, and to select the lines for printing by moving the counter pressure roller to printing position, when the desired lines of the master sheet pass through the printing line so that only the parts of the lines located in the selected columns are printed.

The advantage of the present invention for industrial organizations, particularly for billing and order printing will be appreciated.

A moistening device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes moistening means, such as a moisture retaining pad for moistening the entire copy sheet, if desired, and a set of cover means which can be individually moved between a covering position covering a corresponding section of the moistening means and an inoperative position uncovering the corresponding section of the moistening means. A set of operating means is provided for selectively moving each of the cover means between the covering and inoperative positions. In this manner, the moistened portions of the copy sheet can be manually selected. Preferably control means are provided for shifting all cover means between inoperative and covering positions, and when all cover means are in inoperative positions, the entire copy sheet is moistened.

No liquid is supplied to those sections of the moistening means which are covered by the cover means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of spe cific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a duplicating machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in section taken on line 22 in FIG. 3, and illustrating on an enlarged scale a moistening device according to the present invention used in the duplicating machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the moistening device shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side view partly in section, illustrating a modified detail of the moistening arrangement.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a duplicating roller 1 is provided with means 1a for holding a master sheet 2 on its periphery. Duplicating roller 1 is mounted on a shaft 3 and is connected by transmission gear means 4-, 5 and 6 to the shaft 11 of a cam means including a plurality of cam discs '7, 8, 9 and 19 which can be turned relative to each other about shaft 11, and also shifted in axial direction in a manner which is known and not an object of the present invention. A counter pressure roller 12 is mounted on a pair of supporting arms 14- which are turnable about a shaft 15, and is operated by toggle-lever means 19, 2G to move in direction of the line AB to and from a printing position. Toggle lever means 19, 20 are operated by a linkage including lever means 18 and a cam follower member 17 which is turnably mounted on a shaft 17a and has a roller 16 cooperating with cam means 7, 8, 9, 10. By shifting selected cams into operative engagement with cam follower roller 16, and by suitably turning and fixing the cams on shaft 11, the counter pressure roller 12 will be moved toward and away from the duplicating roller 1 so that selected axially extending portions of the master sheet 3 are pressed against a copy sheet passing between which extends between the side walls 21a.

69 rollers 1 and 12 when transported by feeding rollers 30a. The holding means 30b holds fed copy sheets in position while undesired portions of the master sheet 2 pass the counter pressure roller 12 in retracted position. This arrangement is known, and constitutes only an element of the combination of the present invention.

Copy sheets 30 are supplied to a table 33c, and then gripped by the transporting rollers 39a to pass a moistening device, generally indicated by the reference numeral 21. Moistening device 21 is rockable on axles 22 and is moved toward and away from copy sheet 39 by a cam 23, a lever 25 having a roller engaged by cam 23, and by another roller 26 which is part of the moistening device. Since cam 23 is mounted and driven by shaft 3, the moistening device 21 is moved toward the copy sheet in timed relation with the turning movement of the duplicating roller so that the copy sheet is moistened before it is fed by transporting rollers 30a to the printing line.

The moistening device 21 is shown in greater detail in FIGURES 2 and 3. A moisture retaining pad 27 is mounted in a holding box which is open at the bottom, and has also openings on top. Holding box 28 is mounted on two side walls 21a which are connected by a bottom part 21b.

Below the pad 27, a set of cover means, illustrated to be plates 29, is provided. Each cover plate 29 is movable in direction of arrow B to the illustrated covering position in which it covers a surface section of the moisture retaining pad 27. The entire set of cover plates 29 covers the entire pad 27 which has a length corresponding to the width of the copy sheets 30. Each cover plate 29 carries a bracket 31 which has pin means 32 projecting therefrom.

A set of manually controlled operating means is mounted on side walls 21a turnable about a shaft 34. Each operating means includes a key 33 mounted on one arm 33a of an angular lever whose other arm 33]) has a slot 330 receiving the pin means 32 of one of the cover means 29, 31, 32. A key 33 is illustrated in FIG. 2 in depressed position in which the cover plate 29 associated therewith is in advanced position covering the respective surface section of the moisture retaining pad 27. When each key is moved to the position shown in dash and dot lines, the respective cover plate is retracted in a direction opposite to arrow B and the respective section of the pad 27 is free to engage a copy sheet 3% transported by feeding rollers 30a. It will be understood that only a strip of the respective copy sheet is moistened by each uncovered surface section of pad 27. When all cover plates 29 are retracted and inoperative, the entire copy sheet is moistened.

The arm 33b of each operating lever is pivotally connected to a shiftable member 35. Members 35 are slidably mounted in corresponding openings of a support 39 Support 39 has a U-shaped cross section, and carries a container 39a which receives liquid from a pipe 3% and supplies such liquid through outlet means 37 to pad 27. As best seen in FIG. 3, each cover plate 29 is located below an outlet means 37 so that the section of pad 27 which is covered and uncovered by the respective cover plate 29 is supplied through the respective outlet means 37 with liquid only if the outlet means is open.

A spring-loaded plug 36 is mounted on each shiftable member 35 and projects into a corresponding recess 38 to close the respective outlet means 37 when the respective shiftable member 35 is in the illustrated position. Another set of catch recesses 38 is provided, which are engaged by spring-loaded plugs 36 when the respective shiftable member 35 is retracted together with the associated cover plate 29. 'It will be understood that movement of operating means 33, 33a, 33b to the position illustrated in dash and dot lines in FIG. 3, will result in shifting of the respective shiftable member 35 together with a respective cover plate 29 to a retracted inoperative position in which plug 36 engages catch recess 38 on the right side as viewed in FIGURE 2.

In this retracted position liquid is supplied through the opening outlet means 37 to those sections of pad 27 which are uncovered by the respective retracted cover plates 29. On the other hand, when a section of pad 27 is covered by a plate 29, no liquid can drip through respective associated outlet means 37 on the covered pad section, since plug 36 closes the respective outlet means.

Control means for simultaneously moving all cover plates 29 and shiftable members 35 between operative and inoperative positions are provided. The control means are manually operated, and include a lever 390 having on one arm a knob 39d. Lever 39c is turnable on shaft 34, and has a second arm which carries a pair of bars 40 and 41 extending across all levers 33a, 33b, and located in the annular space between arms 33a and 33b.

When control means 39c, 39a. is moved in direction of the arrow F, bar 40 engages arms 33a of all operating means and turns the same into the position illustrated in dash and dot lines, so that all cover plates 29 are retracted, and all outlet means 37 are opened. When control means 39c, 39d is turned in direction of arrow G, bar 41 engages arm 33b, and turns the operating means into the position shown in solid lines in which all cover plates 29 are in covering position, and all outlet means 37 are closed by plugs 36.

The moistening device shown in FIG. 2 is preferably mounted as shown in FIG. 1 so that the pad 27 directly moistens fed copy sheets. In the modified construction of FIG. 4, a transfer roller 42 is arranged between pad 27, and the copy sheet 30, so that the sections of the transfer roller 42 located opposite uncovered sections of the pad 27 are moistened, and moisten on the copy sheet 30 corresponding strips extending in feeding direction.

The above described duplicating machine operates in the following manner.

When it is desired to print, for example, selected lines of selected columns of a text written in mirror-script on the master sheet 2, the master sheet 2 is, for example, mounted on the duplicating roller 1 with the lines extending in axial direction and the columns extending in circumferential direction, although this arrangement may be reversed. Assuming that the columns extend in circumferential directions, corresponding columns of the copy sheet 30 will extend in feeding direction of the copy sheet, and consequently it is necessary to moisten strips on the copy sheet which correspond to the selected columns. The operating means 33 associated with such selected columns are moved to the position illustrated in dash and dot lines so that the respective cover plates 29 are retracted, and uncover the respective sections of pad 27 so that strips of the copy sheets are moistened when the copy sheets are transported past the moistening pad 27. Such partly moistened copy sheets are supplied to the printing line between the pressure roller 1 and the counter pressure roller 12. During each revolution, the entire master sheet 2 passes through the printing line. However, the position of cam means 7, 8, 9, 10 has been so selected that the counter pressure roller 12 is moved to printing position only when desired lines of the master sheet pass through the printing line. In this manner lines of the master sheet are selected for printing, and are pressed against the copy sheet when the same passes the printing line together with the master sheet. However, not the entire line of the master sheet is printed, since imprints are received by the copy sheet only on the moistened portions of the copy sheet. Consequently, only the parts of the selected lines of the master sheet which are pressed against the selected moistened columns of the copy sheet are printed in such selected columns.

If counter pressure roller is held in printing position while the entire master sheet passes through the printing line, entire columns of the master sheet will be printed on the moistened strips of the copy sheet. In this manner.

columns can be selected for printing by operation of keys 33. If the master sheet is turned 90, selected moistened strips of the copy sheet will receive imprints of selected lines of the master sheet which now extend in circumferential direction of the printing roller.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of duplicating machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a duplicating method and apparatus for receiving imprints from a master sheet on selected moistened portions of a copy sheet, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, rotary duplicating roller means; means for holding a master sheet on said duplicating roller means; counter pressure roller means having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said duplicating roller means; feeding means for supplying copy sheets in a tangential feeding direction to the bight between said roller means; means for rotating said duplicating roller means; control means for moving one of said roller means during each revolution of said counter pressure roller means repeatedly to and from a printing position, and for holding said one roller means in said printing position while said roller means press corresponding axially extending selected parallel line or column portions arranged in a first pattern on said master sheet against adjacent axially extending portions of a copy sheet fed to said roller means; and a moistening device including moistening means for moistening on the fed copy sheets selected strip portions extending in said feeding direction along copy sheets transported by said feeding means, said moistened strip portions being arranged in a second pattern whereby on said copy sheets imprints of only those parts of said axially extending portions of said master sheet are produced which cross said selected moistened strip portions of said copy sheets so that selected line portions of selected columns are printed on the copy sheet.

2. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, rotary duplicating roller means; means for holding a master sheet on said duplicating roller means; counter pressure roller mans having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said duplicating roller means; feeding means for supplying copy sheets in a tangential feeding direction to the bight between said roller means; means for rotating said duplicating roller means; control means for moving one of said roller means during each revolution of said counter pressure roller means repeatedly to and from a printing position, and for holding said one roller means in said printing position while said roller means press corresponding axially extending selected parallel line or column portions arranged in a first pattern on said master sheet against adjacent axially extending portions of a copy sheet fed to said roller means; a moistening device including moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means, said moistening means extending in axial direction of said roller means so as to be adapted to effect moistening of the entire surface of a fed copy sheet; a set of cover means respectively associated with circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, each cover means being shiftable between a covering position covering a surface section of said moistening means and an inoperative position retracted from and uncovering the respective surface section of said moistening means; and a set of manually controlled operating means respectively associated with the circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, and connected to the respective cover means for moving the same between said positions thereof so that uncovered surface sections of said moistening means effect moistening of corresponding strips of a fed copy sheet extending in said feeding direction along feed copy sheets and being arranged in a second pattern whereby on copy sheets imprints of only those parts of said axially extending portions of said master sheet are produced which cross moistened strips of said copy sheets so that selected line portions of selected columns are printed on the copy sheet.

3. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, rotary duplicating roller means; means for holding a master sheet on said duplicating roller means; counter pressure roller means having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said duplicating roller means; feeding means for supplying copy sheets in a tangential feeding direction to the bight between said roller means; means for rotating said duplicating roller means; control means for moving one of said roller means during each revolution of said counter pressure roller means repeatedly to and from a printing position, and for holding said one roller means in said printing position while said roller means press corresponding axially extending selected parallel line or column portions arranged in a first patter on said master sheet against adjacent axially extending portions of a copy sheet fed to said roller means; a moistening device including moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means, said moistening means extending in axial direction of said roller means so as to be adapted to efiect moistening of the entire surface of a fed copy sheet; a set of cover means respectively associated with circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, each cover means being shiftable between a covering position covering a surface section of said moistening means and an inoperative position retracted from and uncovering the respective surface section of said moistening means; a set of manually controlled operating means respectively associated with the circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, and connected to the respective cover means for moving the same between said positions thereof so that uncovered surface sections of said moistening means effect moistening of corresponding strips of a fed copy sheet extending in said feeding direction along feed copy sheets and being arranged in a second pattern whereby on copy sheets imprints of only those parts of said axially extending portions of said master sheet are produced which cross strips of said copy sheets so that selected line portions of selected columns are printed on the copy sheet; and control means connected to all of said cover means for simultaneously moving the same between said covering and inoperative positions.

4. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, rotary duplicating roller means; means for holding a master sheet on said duplicating roller means; counter pressure roller means having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said duplicating roller means; feeding means for supplying copy sheets in a tangential feeding direction to the bight between said roller means; means for moving one of said roller means to and from a printing position in which said roller means press corresponding axially extending selected portions of said master sheet against adjacent axially extending portions of a copy sheet fed to said roller means; a moistening device including moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means, said moistening means extending in axial direction of said roller means so as to be adapted to effect moistening of the entire surface of a fed copy sheet; a set of cover means respectively associated with circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, each cover means being shiftable between a covering position covering a surface section of said moistening means and an inoperative position retracted from and uncovering the respective surface section of said moistening means; moisture supply means for supplying a liquid to said moistening means for supplying liquid only to the respective surface section; a set of moisture supply control means respectively associated with said surface sections and being movable between an operative position interrupting supply of liquid by said moisture supply means to the respective surface section and an inoperative position; and a set of manually controlled operating means respectively associated with the circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, and respectively connected to said cover means for moving the same between said positions thereof, and respectively connected to said moisture supply control means for moving the same between said operative and inoperative positions so that only uncovered surface sections of said moistening means are supplied in the moisture to effect moistening of corresponding strips of a fed copy sheet extending in said feeding direction along feed copy sheets whereby on copy sheets imprints of only those parts of said axially extending portions of said master sheet are produced Which cross moistened strips of said copy sheets.

5. A rotary duplicator comprising, in combination, rotary duplicating roller means; means for holding a master sheet on said duplicating roller means; counter pressure roller means having an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of said duplicating roller means; feeding means for supplying copy sheets in a tangential feeding direction to the hight between said roller means; means for moving one of said roller means to and from a printing position in which said roller means press corresponding axially extending selected portions of said master sheet against adjacent axially extending portions of a copy sheet fed to said roller means; a moistening device including moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means, said moistening means extending in axial direction of said roller means so as to be adapted to effect moistening of the entire surface of a fed copy sheet; a set of cover means respectively associated with circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, each cover means being shiftable between a covering position covering a surface section of said moistening means and an inoperative position retracted from and uncovering the respective surface section of said moistening means; moisture supply means for supplying a liquid to said moistening means and including a set of moisture supplying elements respectively located above said surface sections of said moistening means for supplying liquid only to the respective surface section; a set of moisture supply control means respectively associated with said elements and being movable between an operative position interrupting supply of liquid by the respective element to the respective surface section and an inoperative position; a set of manually controlled operating means respectively associated with the circumferentially extending sections of the master sheet, and respectively connected to said cover means for moving the same between said positions thereof, and respectively connected to said moisture supply control means for moving the same between said operative and inoperative positions so that only uncovered surface sections of said moistening means are supplied in the moisture to effect moistening of corresponding strips of a fed Copy sheet extending in said feeding direction along feed copy sheets along whereby on copy sheets imprints of only those parts of said axially extending portions of said master sheet are produced which cross moistened strips of said copy sheets;

and control means connected to all said cover plates and to all said moisture supply control means for simultaneously moving the same between said positions of the same.

6. A duplicator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said moistening means includes a moisture retaining pad having said surface sections, and means for holding said pad; wherein said cover means are plates located opposite said surface sections; wherein said moisture supply means include a container for a liquid formed with a plurality of outlet means respectively located above said surface sections of said pad and constituting said moisture supplying elements; and wherein said moisture supply control means are shiftable members including resilient plugs for closing said outlet openings in operative positions of said shiftable members.

7. A duplicator as set forth in claim 5, wherein said moistening means include a transfer roller cooperating with said pad for transferring moisture from the same to a copy sheet; and wherein said cover plates in covering positions are located between said pad and said transfer roller.

8. A duplicator as set forth in claim 2, wherein each manually controlled operating means includes a key and lever means connecting said key with one of said cover means.

9. A duplicator as set forth in claim 5, wherein each of said manually controlled operating means includes a key, and angular lever means connecting said key with one of said cover means and having tWo arms; and wherein said control means include a handle member and axially extending bar means connected to said handle member and extending across all said angular lever means and being located in the angular space between the arms of all angular lever means.

10. A device for moistening copy sheets, comprising, in combination, feeding means for transporting copy sheets in a feeding direction to a duplicating machine; moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means and including a moisture-retaining pad extending transverse to said feeding direction a distance corresponding to the width of fed copy sheets; a set of cover plate means, each cover plate means having a transverse width which is a fraction of the transverse extension of said moistening pad, each of said cover plate means being movable between a covering position covering a corresponding section of said moistening pad, and an inoperative position uncovering the corresponding section of said moistening pad; a set of liquid supplying elements respectively cooperating with said sections of said pad for supplying liquid only to the respective section of said pad; a set of liquid supply control means respectively associated with said elements and being movable between an operative position interrupting supply of liquid to said sections of said pad, and an inoperative position; and a set of operating means for selectively moving each of said cover plate means between said covering and inoperative positions and respectively connected to said supply control means for simultaneously moving the same between said operative and inoperative positions so that only uncovered sections of said pad are moistened whereby selected strips of copy sheets located opposite cover plate means in inoperative positions are moistened to receive imprints in the duplicating machine whereas unmoistened portions of the copy sheets located opposite cover plate means in covering position receive no imprints in the duplicating machine.

117 A device for moistening copy sheets, comprising, in combination, feeding means for transporting copy sheets in a feeding direction to a duplicating machine; moistening means for moistening copy sheets transported by said feeding means and including an elongate moisture-retaining pad having transverse to said feeding direction a width corresponding to the width of fed copy sheets, and an elongate container for a liquid formed with a plurality of outlet means spaced along the length of said container transverse to said feeding direction, said container being located above said pad so that liquid is supplied through said outlet means to sections of said pad; a set of cover means, each cover means having a transverse width which is a fraction of the transverse width of said moistening pad, each of said cover means being movable between a covering position covering a corresponding section of said moistening pad supplied with liquid through one of said outlet means, and an inoperative position uncovering the corresponding section of said moistening pad; a set of closure means respectively associated with said outlet means and movable between an inoperative position and an operative position closing the respective outlet means; and a set of operating means for selectively moving each of said cover means between said covering and inoperative positions and for moving each of said closure means to said closing position when the respective associated cover means is moved to said covering position so that selected strips of copy sheets located opposite cover means in inoperative positions are moistened to receive imprints in the duplicating machine whereas unmoistened portions of the copy sheets located opposite cover means in covering position receive no imprints in the duplicating machine.

l2. A device as set forth in claim 11, wherein each of said cover means includes a plate, a bracket on the plate, and a pin means on said bracket; and wherein each of said closure means includes a shiftable member and a spring-loaded plug mounted on said shiftable member for closing the respective outlet means in said operative position of said shiftable member; and wherein each of said operating means includes a key, and a lever means secured to said key and having a slot engaging said pin of the respective associated cover means, and means connecting each of said lever means to one of said shiftable members.

13. A device as set forth in claim 12, wherein each of said lever means is an angular lever having two arms, one of said arms being connected to said pin and to said shiftable member, and the other of said arms being secured to said key, and comprising a manually controlled means including bar means located in the angular space between the arms of each of said lever means and extending across all said lever means, said manually controlled means being movable for shifting all said lever means between a first position in which said cover plates are in covering position, and in which said spring-loaded plugs close all said outlet openings, and an inoperative position in which said pad is uncovered, and said outlet means are opened; wherein said spring-loaded plugs arrest said shiftable members, said operating means and said cover means when engaging said outlet means; and wherein said elongate container has a set of catch recesses respectively associated with said shiftable members and cover means, and wherein said spring-loaded plugs engage said catch recesses in said inoperative positions of said shiftable members and of said cover plates for releasably arresting the same.

14. In a duplicating machine for printing selected lines of selected columns, in combination, means for moistening only parallel strip portions of a copy sheet corresponding to parallel column or line portions selected according to a first pattern; and means for pressing parallel line or column portions, respectively selected according to a second pattern on an inked master sheet and extending transverse to said moistened strip portions of the copy sheet against the copy sheet so that imprints appear on the copy sheet only where the selected line or column portions of the master sheet cross the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet corresponding to said selected column or line portions, respectively so that only selected lines of selected columns are printed on the copy sheet while no imprints appear on those portions of the copy sheet where the same is moistened without being pressed against the master sheet, and where the same is pressed against the master sheet but is not. moistened.

15 A duplicating method for printing selected lines of selected columns comprising the steps of moistening parallel strip portions of a copy sheet corresponding to parallel column or line portions selected according to a first pattern; and pressing the copy sheet against parallel line or column portions, respectively, selected according to a second pattern on an inked master sheet while maintaining the copy sheet in a position in which the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet extend transverse to said line or column portions of the master sheet so that im prints appear on the copy sheet only where the selected line or column portions of the master sheet cross the moistened strip portions of the copy sheet corresponding to said selected column or line portions, respectively so that only selected lines of selected columns are printed on the copy sheet while no imprints appear on those portions of the copy sheet where the same is moistened without being pressed against the master sheet, and where the same is pressed against the master sheet but is not moistened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,208 Ritzerfeld Mar. 17, 1936 2,174,208 Ford Sept. 26, 1939 2,236,442 Neidich Mar. 25, 1941 2,758,539 Ritzerfeld et al Aug. 14, 1956 

